Shorewood Crossroads Festival features special needs pre-party

7/14/2017, 4:16 p.m.

Cross Roads Fest in Shorewood.
Cross Roads Fest

SHOREWOOD--The sixth year of providing a free pre-party for families with special needs promises to be bigger and better.

The annual Shorewood Crossroads Festival will open early at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 for an exclusive pre-party designed specifically for families that include children with special needs such as wheelchairs, crowd and noise issues.

The rides will be slowed down a bit, lights and music will be turned off and "friends for the day" will be provided to lend a helping hand to the families.

Families who want to attend the two hour pre-party are encouraged to RSVP by

July 17. "We will take anyone up to the time of the event. The reason for the deadline is to guarantee a t-shirt. If they just want to join in on the activities, they can, but won't get a shirt," explained Carol Wagner, president of the Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce.

Register by calling the chamber office at 815-725-2900 or by going to www.crossroadsfest.com. The pre-party is sponsored by Windy City Amusements.

The annual festival, which runs Aug. 4-6 at Cene's Four Seasons Park, will feature all the events, activities and entertainment that festival goers have come to expect over the years.